For months, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has berated President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for not giving the state more federal money to combat historic wildfires that have so far burned 2.5 million acres. Despite the fact that the administration has offered 26 different kinds of federal assistance to combat the fires, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) claimed that Obama is waging a war on Texas. After months of blaming the President for not doing enough, Reuters reported yesterday that Perry is poised to sign a budget that slashes funding for the state agency that is battling the wildfires.

Republicans control all three branches of government in Texas and are close to an agreement on a budget that makes deep cuts to the Texas Forest Service during an unprecedented and destructive wildfire season:

The Texas Forest Service faces almost $34 million in budget cuts over the next two years, roughly a third of the agencys total budget. The cuts are in both the House and Senate versions of the proposed state budget. [...]

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Assistance grants [for volunteer fire departments] are likely to take the biggest hit. Volunteers  two of whom were killed in fighting this years fires  make up nearly 80 percent of the states fire-fighting force and are first responders to roughly 90 percent of wildfires in Texas.

Chris Barron, executive director of the State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association, says the funding on the chopping block is indispensable. Many volunteer fire departments already have worn-down equipment, and without funding for new equipment, response times will almost certainly increase.

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Despite the fact that FEMAs manpower and money have been stretched thin by a series of disasters, theyve been deeply involved in the effort to fight the Texas fires and have given the state aid that covers 75 percent of Texass costs for emergency response work, such as evacuations, equipment, field camps and meals for firefighters.

Except TP is quoting Reuters. Would of just directly linked to the Reuters article except it's on the Huffington Post site. However, if you follow the link on the TP page you should find it quite easily. You're more than welcome to do your own research and prove me wrong though. I have no problem admitting so when I am.

For months, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has berated President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for not giving the state more federal money to combat historic wildfires that have so far burned 2.5 million acres. Despite the fact that the administration has offered 26 different kinds of federal assistance to combat the fires, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) claimed that Obama is waging a war on Texas. After months of blaming the President for not doing enough, Reuters reported yesterday that Perry is poised to sign a budget that slashes funding for the state agency that is battling the wildfires.

Republicans control all three branches of government in Texas and are close to an agreement on a budget that makes deep cuts to the Texas Forest Service during an unprecedented and destructive wildfire season:

The Texas Forest Service faces almost $34 million in budget cuts over the next two years, roughly a third of the agencys total budget. The cuts are in both the House and Senate versions of the proposed state budget. [...]

Click to expand...

Assistance grants [for volunteer fire departments] are likely to take the biggest hit. Volunteers  two of whom were killed in fighting this years fires  make up nearly 80 percent of the states fire-fighting force and are first responders to roughly 90 percent of wildfires in Texas.

Chris Barron, executive director of the State Firemens and Fire Marshals Association, says the funding on the chopping block is indispensable. Many volunteer fire departments already have worn-down equipment, and without funding for new equipment, response times will almost certainly increase.

Click to expand...

Despite the fact that FEMAs manpower and money have been stretched thin by a series of disasters, theyve been deeply involved in the effort to fight the Texas fires and have given the state aid that covers 75 percent of Texass costs for emergency response work, such as evacuations, equipment, field camps and meals for firefighters.

Except TP is quoting Reuters. Would of just directly linked to the Reuters article except it's on the Huffington Post site. However, if you follow the link on the TP page you should find it quite easily. You're more than welcome to do your own research and prove me wrong though. I have no problem admitting so when I am.

Except TP is quoting Reuters. Would of just directly linked to the Reuters article except it's on the Huffington Post site. However, if you follow the link on the TP page you should find it quite easily. You're more than welcome to do your own research and prove me wrong though. I have no problem admitting so when I am.

The federal government has 26 different kinds of assistance to fight wildfires? No wonder things are so screwed up in Washington. The feds have to appoint 26 taxpayer funded committies to figure out how to get to work in the morning.

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